Lives of the First World War

George Stoakes, born 17th October 1897 at 107 Barnby Gate, Newark, County of Nottingham. Son of Samuel Brumby Stoakes, a Journeyman Blacksmith, and Annie Stoakes, formerly Smith.

George Stoakes (front row, third from the left), is a member of his school football team, which has won a shield for the 1908-09 season. George is 11 years old. His older brother James is also a member of the team (front row, first on the right). The school was in Newark, Guildhall Street, close to where George lived with his family in Barnby Gate.

George Stoakes (front row, second from the left), is a member of his school football team, which has won a shield for the 1909-10 season. George is 12 years old. His older brother James is also a member of the team (front row, first on the right). The school was in Newark, Guildhall Street, close to where George lived with his family in Barnby Gate.

George's father Samuel, known as Sammy, is standing in the middle of the three men. He was a blacksmith at WH Nicholson's Ironworks firm in Newark, a foundry producing agricultural machinery. It is estimated that this picture was taken in 1910 (approximately), and possibly at the Ironworks.

This cup was won by George before he joined the army to serve in the First World War. The details of the athletics event are not known. The hallmarks on the cup show that it was made in 1915, when George was 17 years old.

This is a photograph of George in his army uniform. It was taken in 1916, after he had enlisted with the 3rd Btn of The Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment) on 6th June, and before mobilisation on 7th September. George is 18 years old. It is thought that the picture was taken in a studio setting in Newark. There is a business label fixed to the back of this photograph: George Reed Overmantel & Picture Frame Manufacturer, Newark, Notts. George's older brother James is also photographed in uniform with the same background setting.

This image has been cropped from the photograph of George in his army uniform. It was taken in 1916, after he had enlisted with the 3rd Btn of The Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment) on 6th June, and before mobilisation on 7th September. George is 18 years old. It is thought that the picture was taken in a studio setting in Newark.

Business label detail: George Reed Overmantel & Picture Frame Manufacturer, Overmantel Factory, Newark, Notts.

This cap badge belonged to George Stoakes, and it is the badge of the Sherwood Foresters, the Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment.

A page of the 17th Btn Sherwood Foresters’ Unit War Diary, with the entry for 15th September 1917. The action described on this day resulted in Pte George Stoakes being one of the wounded referred to in the entry, "Enemy shell fire very heavy in retaliation for our Barrages (Casualties 7 killed, 11 wounded). Batt relieved by 13th Royal Sussex Rgt moved to bivouacs at N9b." This took place in trenches near Steenvoorde in Northern France.

Close-up image of the 17th Btn Sherwood Foresters’ Unit War Diary entry for 15th September 1917. The action described on this day resulted in Pte George Stoakes being one of the wounded referred to in the entry, "Enemy shell fire very heavy in retaliation for our Barrages (Casualties 7 killed, 11 wounded). Batt relieved by 13th Royal Sussex Rgt moved to bivouacs at N9b." This took place in trenches near Steenvoorde in Northern France.

This is a section of one of George’s Army Discharge Documents, Army Form B 178B, Statement by a soldier concerning his own case. George describes the wounds he received in France, "I was wounded in right leg, left leg, right arm & face by schrapnel, causing partial loss of sight to right eye. I was wounded on 15.9.17 whilst in front line trenches." This statement has been signed and witnessed, with a date stamp of 16 Oct 1918.

Created by the Army Medal Office, this Index Card records that Pte George Stoakes is entitled to receive The British War Medal and The Victory Medal. (No notes were written on the back of this Index Card)

This is a section of the Medal Roll which includes George Stoakes. The volume and page number for this Roll are recorded on his Medal Index Card. The Roll confirms that George Stoakes is entitled to The British War Medal & The Victory Medal, and that he served with the 17th Bn Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment.

The medals received by George Stoakes for his service in the War. His service number, rank, name and regiment are impressed on the rim of each medal.

The reverse sides of the medals received by George Stoakes for his service in the War.

Close-up image of the information impressed on the rims of the medals received by George Stoakes: 61053 PTE G Stoakes, Notts & Derby R

This Roll confirms that George Stoakes is entitled to receive the Silver War Badge for his service in the War, having been wounded in France in September 1917. Attestation Date: 6th June 1916. Mobilisation Date: 7th September 1916. Discharge Date: 18th October 1918. Age: 21. Cause of Discharge: 392 xvi Wounds para ai. Badge Number: B36632

Section of the Pension Ledger for Pte George Stoakes, Notts & Derby Regiment, Regimental No. 61053. Address: 60 Cross Street, Newark, Notts. Date of Discharge: 18th October 1918. Disabilities: GSW R Leg Amp, R Thigh. Date of commencement of Pension: 19th October 1918.

On 23rd June 1923, George Stoakes married Gertrude Annie Chapman at The Congregational Church London Road, Newark. George is 25 years old, and he is a Civil Servant. His father is Samuel Brumby Stoakes, Foreman Blacksmith. Gertrude Annie Chapman is 21 years old and her father is Thomas Taylor Chapman, Boatman. They are married in the Presence of James Henry Stoakes and Annie Elizabeth Wright, who are George's brother and sister.

George and Gertie on their wedding day

A photograph of Gertie taken by George, outside the Chyandour Hotel, Torquay in 1931. Gertie is on the left. The other subjects are unknown.

George and Gertie with family and friends. George is third from right, and Gertie is fourth from the right. George's older brother Jim is on the left, and Jim's wife Margery is third from the left.

Gertie died of Tuberculosis in January 1934, and this is the receipt that George received for her burial. Grave Space No 179, Section B, Class C (Chapel Side). George is also buried in this grave. The ashes of his second wife Nellie are included within it as well.

On 5th October 1935, George Stoakes, a widower, married Nellie McCleod at The Parish Church, Balderton. George is 37 years old, and he is a Civil Servant. His father is Samuel Brumby Stoakes, Blacksmith. Nellie McCleod is 30 years old and her father is David McCleod (deceased), Rope Maker. They are married in the Presence of Eva Emily McCleod, Nellie's step mother, and Fred Stoakes, one of George's younger brothers.

From left to right: Fred Stoakes, best man and brother of the bridegroom; Annie Stoakes, mother of the bridegroom; George Stoakes, the bridegroom; Nellie McCleod, the bride; Eva Emily McCleod, step mother of the bride. This photograph was taken at the studio of Hunt & Co in Newark. Its name is stamped on to the front of the card frame.

This is a photograph of George's parents, Annie and Samuel Stoakes, with their grandson, Fred Stoakes (also known as Freddie), who is George's nephew. Fred's mother had died in 1925, the year that he was born, and possibly as a result of childbirth. Fred and his father, also called Fred, then lived with Annie and Sammy at 60 Cross Street, Newark. This photograph was taken in Newark, probably at Cross Street, in the 1930s.

This is an image of the entries for George Stoakes and Nellie Stoakes in the 1939 England and Wales Register, taken on 29th September, which provides details of an estimated 40 million people residing in the country at the time. It is the only surviving record of the population between 1921 and 1951. George Stoakes Birth Date: 17 Oct 1897; Address: 24 Grove Street, Newark, Notts; Occupation: Senior Tax Officer, HM Inspector of Taxes Dept.; Nellie Stoakes Birth Date: 8 Feb 1905; Occupation: Unpaid domestic duties.

This is the transcription of the entries for George Stoakes and Nellie Stoakes in the 1939 England and Wales Register.

George photographed by his wife Nellie in Torquay in the 1950s

Newspaper cutting from the Newark Advertiser, reporting on the death of George Stoakes. He had fallen into the River Devon near Devon Park in Newark. Three passers-by pulled George out of the river, artificial respiration was used and oxygen was administered, however he was dead on arrival at Newark General Hospital.

Newspaper cutting from the Newark Advertiser, reporting on the funeral of George Stoakes, with an obituary. The funeral took place at Newark Congregational Church, and George was buried at Newark Cemetery. George had been Newark branch treasurer of the British Limbless Ex-Servicemen's Association. Before losing a leg in the First World War he was recognised as a fine footballer and sprinter. A senior tax officer in the civil service for 30 years, he retired in 1952 due to ill health.

Newspaper cutting from the Newark Advertiser, reporting on the inquest into the death of George Stoakes. The Death Certificate states that this inquest took place on 10th June 1964. Medical evidence was given by Dr Wilfrid Valentine who said that George was suffering from severe wounds from the 1914-1918 War, noting that with his artificial right leg and defective eyesight, worsened by recent cataract operations, he would have walked unsteadily and have difficulty in seeing. A verdict of accidental death was recorded, the coroner (Claude Mack) concluding that it was a tragic accident.

George's death was registered on 19th June 1964, after the inquest held on 10th June 1964. George Stoakes, age 66 years, of 36 Hardwick Avenue, Newark, retired civil servant. Died on Ninth March 1964. Dead on arrival at the General Hospital Newark. Cause of death: Accidental asphyxiation due to drowning when he fell into the river. Certificate received from Claude A Mack, Coroner for Borough of Newark.